Members and supporters of the Kansas Equality Coalition were before the Hutchinson City Council Tuesday morning asking that the council consider taking action to provide fair and equal treatment of all citizens in Hutchinson.

John Powell, a member of the coalition says he and others involved with the coalition want to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s current list of protected classes. But, says Powell, “we are not asking for special privileges, we just ask that Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Trans-gender Hutchinson residents be afforded the same protections as everyone else has.”

He also talked about the bullying that goes on especially towards gay kids not being acceptable.

The local chapter of the coalition has about 200-members in Hutchinson, and more then 2-thousand statewide.

The chapter on their website urged members to be present to show city leaders they are serious about making these local citizens protected as is anyone else. That is their mission according to their website is to stop discrimination in Kansas and ensure the safety and dignity of all Kansans.

Other cities in Kansas have either adapted such policies, or are considering it including Manhattan and Lawrence.

The city council said they would study the request further.